It’s one of Darts’ most iconic events at one of Darts’ most iconic of venues. But this year’s World Matchplay will be the last for its most iconic champion. The belle of the Blackpool ballroom fifteen times Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor will be looking to call time on what is his ‘favourite’ event in Blackpool as a champion for a 16th time, matching his imperious World Championship haul. Despite being the King of the Winter Gardens, he has not won the Matchplay since demolishing Michael van Gerwen in the final three years ago for what was then an 8th successive Matchplay, leaving the Dutchman in tears.
But it will be that Dutchman who he will try to wrestle the trophy from, after he defeated the Potter 18-10 in the final last year. As World number 1 and the reigning champion in each of the majors except the UK Open he is the man that every dart player has in their sights. The first man in his sights is a former Lakeside World Champion in Stephen Bunting. The Bullet just a couple of years ago was a Premier League player and will need to produce that premier class if he is to topple the World Number 1 at the Winter Gardens. Should he get through a potential date with Simon Whitlock is on the cards in the last 16.
Gary Anderson, the former back-to-back World Champion has never won the Matchplay and victory this week would mean he would become the third man after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen to lift the triple crown of big televised majors. He opens up also against a former Lakeside champion as he faces Dutchman Christian Kist. A fellow scot looking for glory is the flamboyant Peter “Snakebite” Wright. After missing 6 darts to win the Premier League in May, he will be trying to show the darting circles that his UK Open triumph in March is no one-off fluke. He faces a banana skin against the ‘Jammie Dodger’ James Wilson, who may well be feeding of the crumbs of the World number 3.
Two other former finalists in this competition looking for glory is Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld. Lewis has been drawn the most mouthwatering of the first round ties as he faces veteran Steve Beaton, who is in hot form following a recent pro-tour success. Barneveld was runner-up in Blackpool in 2010 and he too faces a game that could go to extra time as he faces the talented Yorkshireman Joe Cullen.
Rob Cross is being spoken about as the dangerous floater in the field in this week’s competition, despite only being on the tour for only six months he has jumped into the World’s top 50 in what is a two-year rolling money list. He faces a tasty tie against the king of the Diamond Dab Ian White, who has used the power of social media to improve his popularity amongst fans. The other non-seeded player to look out for is Daryl Gurney. Runner-up in last week’s US Darts Masters in Las Vegas, he will be looking to go one better in Blackpool and he starts his campaign against 15th Seed Benito van de Pas.
As the tournament develops some tasty match-ups are in the offing as early as the second round. Should Phil Taylor get past Premier League hopeful Gerwyn Price in the opening round he could face five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld in the last 16. Michael van Gerwen the number 1 seed could face former European Champion Simon Whitlock in the last 16. Gary Anderson could have the chance to avenge his defeat to Daryl Gurney in Vegas in the second round. We could see an all Scottish affair between Peter Wright and Robert Thornton and James Wade could face the inform Michael Smith in a tie that should both go through has the potential to go to extra time.
And then as the last 16 becomes the quarter finals, one potential clash has more excitement that any other matchup the tournament can muster as should the seedings prevail and in that quarter of the draw it would have to, Phil Taylor could face the seemingly invincible Michael van Gerwen. The world number 1 was nearly beaten by the Power a fortnight ago in the Shanghai Darts Masters only for Taylor to rue missed match darts.
But that could just be a fantasy given the amount of talent on show in what is for me my favourite tournament in the World of Darts in what is the best venue. I may love the BDO Lakeside but you would be hard pushed to think of a better event in World Darts than the matchplay.
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 